Walter Howchin

Walter Howchin (12 January 1845 – 27 November 1937) was a geologist who lectured in mineralogy and palaeontology at the former Adelaide School of Mines and the University of Adelaide. He won the Clarke Medal in 1907.

Early life and education Walter Howchin was born on 12 January 1845 in Norwich, England, a son of Primitive Methodist minister Rev. Richard Howchin (1803–1874) and Mary Ann Ward, née Goose.

He was one of eleven children

Australia After contracting tuberculosis, Howchin emigrated to Australia in 1881. The change of climate helped his condition and he recovered fully.

Howchin retired in 1920.

Howchin went to study the geology of the Flinders Ranges with Douglas Mawson and Thomas Griffith Taylor in February 1906. Mawson's first work about South Australian geology was submitted to the Government of South Australia in March 1906, based on the work done in this trip.

Books written by Howchin remained in use as student textbooks for some decades.

For much of this later period of his life he was closely associated with another great Australian geologist of his era, Edgeworth David.

Personal life Howchin married Esther Gibbons (died 1924) in 1869, and they had two daughters, who survived him.